Shen once | Gong Lijiao, give yourself a reason to insist

In the 22nd year of his career, the 22nd breakthrough of the 20-meter "mark", 34-year-old Gong Lijiao is still writing an ageless legend.

On the evening of June 28, in the women's shot put final of the 2023 National Athletics Championships and World Championships and Asian Games Trials, Gong Lijiao threw 20.06 meters in the fifth throw, creating a personal best of the season and winning the championship without suspense.

This is not only the first time that Gong Lijiao has broken through the 20m this season, but also the second best women's shot put in the world so far this year.

Gong Lijiao was interviewed after the game. Video Editor Xu Chuli (00:47)

"Actually, I think I can do better [in this game]." After breaking through the 20 meters, Gong Lijiao was not satisfied with his performance, "but this result gave me confidence, and it was a good start for the World Championships and Asian Games." ”

In fact, behind this seemingly relaxed championship, Gong Lijiao paid too much price - difficult injuries, longer recovery times, physical tests brought about by age, and many challenges to coach himself.

But Gong Lijiao is always fighting with himself, "Even if there are 100 reasons to give up, there is always one reason for me to stay, that is, my ultimate dream of 21 meters." ”

Gong Lijiao won the championship.

A breakthrough of "contentment but not satisfaction"

Shenyang, Liaoning Province, is a fairly familiar blessed land for Gong Lijiao.

At the 2013 Shenyang National Games, Gong Lijiao, who was only 24 years old at the time, stood for the first time at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center, defending her title with a brilliant time of 19.75 meters, establishing her "dominance" of women's shot put in China.

Six years later, back at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center, on that rainy night, Gong Lijiao played steadily and dominated the World Championships in Athletics with a score of 19.16 meters.

Then came this year's World Championships and Asian Games "double" trials, Gong Lijiao not only won the championship again, but also set a personal best of the season.

"Shenyang is really my blessed place, from 2013 to today, every time has given me a different feeling, a National Games champion and two victories in the trials, the results are good."

As Gong Lijiao himself said, 20.06 meters is indeed a good result. Prior to this tryout, Gong Lijiao's best time of the season was only 19.66 meters – and she is now second in the women's shot put this season with her tryout victory, behind the American Evan who threw 20.45 meters in late May.

However, Gong Lijiao was not satisfied with his performance.

"I'm content, but not satisfied." When asked by a reporter after the race why there was no excitement or movement after the 20-meter throw, Gong Lijiao confessed that she was expecting better results.

"According to the original plan, I still wanted to continue to improve, and after the second throw of 19.88m, I knew that I could break through 20m, so I thought about whether I could reach about 20.30m."

Looking back at this game, Gong Lijiao revealed that his preparation and competition in the past few days just met the physiological period, so there was a bit of a decline in physical fitness, "In fact, I wanted to achieve better results, but just in time for the physiological period, so my physical strength has declined, and my legs are heavier today." ”

Gong Lijiao herself said that this preparation and competition experience was also a valuable experience for her, and when she threw only 18.66 meters in the first throw, she quickly adjusted, and the remaining five shots were not only successful, but also at least equaled her season best before this competition.

This also means that Gong Lijiao already has the ability to quickly adjust physically and psychologically.

Being your own coach is an unimaginable pain and pain

As a 34-year-old veteran, Gong Lijiao is still the unshakable hegemon in the Chinese women's shot put. But behind such an extremely strong dominance, Gong Lijiao has to face many challenges and difficulties that the outside world cannot imagine.

After winning the Olympic gold medal with a personal best of 20.58 meters at the Tokyo Olympics, Gong Lijiao gradually left the guidance of coach Cong Yuzhen in the following year and entered the stage of "coaching himself".

"Because I've worked with a lot of well-known coaches before, I believe I also have a lot of experience, including I've been practicing for so long, no one knows myself better than me."

At the level of elite competitive sports, many top athletes will always seek more experienced coaches to help them maintain their condition or even seek breakthroughs, but Gong Lijiao does the opposite, which is actually a very risky challenge.

Gong Lijiao and his own team.

"My junior sister Guo Tianqian is now my assistant coach, because our mentors are the same, so there is no technical difference, so I come to develop a training plan, and then she will help me analyze from the technical and video aspects."

In order to maintain a high level of competitive condition and hit his goal of 21 meters, Gong Lijiao, as a head coach and athlete, formed a systematic and complete team by himself.

"My team is now the most complete, including two physical therapists, one is responsible for rehabilitation, the other is responsible for the usual training, and then there are team doctors and technology-assisted staff."

Even if he built his team so comprehensively, Gong Lijiao still had to face the injury problems caused by age.

According to the surging news reporter, just before this Shenyang tryout, Gong Lijiao suffered a waist injury, and the degree of injury almost affected normal life.

Gong Lijiao showed his trademark smile.

"Every day is very uncomfortable, in fact, sometimes I really want to give up." Gong Lijiao does not shy away from the blows brought by her age and injury, "Maybe you can slow down after sleeping for a day of training in the past, but now I still feel very tired after sleeping three times." ”

This may also explain why Gong Lijiao threw 19.30 meters in a "small competition" in early April this year, and she cried after the race.

But the "giving up" in Gong Lijiao's mouth is actually just a fleeting thought, even at the age of 34, she has no real intention of leaving the sport she loves.

"Even if there are 100 reasons to give up, there is always one reason for me to stay, and that is my ultimate dream of 21 meters."

First regain the gold medal at the World Championships, and then hit the 21 meters

So, when will Gong Lijiao really touch 21 meters? As her own head coach, she now has a clearer plan, not just relying on confidence and drive.

"There may be reservations this year and the plan for this season is to approach a personal best. Speaking of plans, Gong Lijiao does have the kind of orderliness of a coach.

She told The Paper that she is looking forward to throwing about 20.50 meters at the World Championships in Budapest, attacking her personal best, and regaining the gold medal lost in Oregon at the last World Championships, "and then keep my best form at the Paris Olympics." ”

According to the official results of the World Athletics Federation this season, although above Gong Lijiao's 20.06 meters, only two Mesozoic athletes from the United States, Evan and Chase Eli, have thrown 20.45 meters and 20.06 meters respectively, these two athletes, also born in 1994, are Gong Lijiao's most important opponents in these years.

"They cast this result, which is also a motivation for myself." Gong Lijiao still maintains absolute confidence in himself, "More than pressure, it is more motivation, because I also have strength." The opponent has done very well, so I can push myself not to relax, so I am still very confident at this year's World Championships. ”

Hope for a real successor

Gong Lijiao, who is about to stand on the stage of the World Championships in Athletics for the ninth time, has almost won the grand slam in the women's shot put, but she also wants to hit the legendary record of "10 World Championships, 5 Olympic Games and 5 Asian Games".

In addition to the "ultimate goal" of 21 meters, there is also a responsibility and responsibility for the Chinese women's shot put.

In Gong Lijiao's view, several excellent reserves have emerged in the Chinese women's shot put, but people like Shanghai's Song Jiayuan and Hebei's Zhang Linru occasionally have ups and downs in the game when they have the technical level to impact 19 meters or even 20 meters.

"They still haven't let go too much, and I'm sure it would be better if they did."

Gong Lijiao hopes to accompany these young people around him to progress, and then wait for them to catch up or even catch up with him.

"I also hope to teach them some experience and be inspired. I'm definitely going to retire one day, and I hope to have a real successor, so I'll be very happy to retire. ”

However, we can rest assured that the "forever 28-year-old" Gong Lijiao will not retire easily in at least these two years - because she is unwilling to fulfill her 21-meter dream, and this personality of not admitting defeat will make Gong Lijiao more and more courageous in his ageless legend.